Trieu: UM emerges as contender for four-star LB Tommy Eichenberg

Michigan offered Cleveland (Ohio) St. Ignatius linebacker Tommy Eichenberg in early October. A Boston College commit who held an Ohio State offer at the time, it may have seemed like a difficult recruitment for the Wolverines to get into, but Michigan is now one of the contenders in the race.

The last time Michigan was at St. Ignatius offering a linebacker partway through his senior season, it was eventual All-American and current Green Bay Packer Jake Ryan. The difference here is Ryan was a sleeper with Mid-American Conference offers, while Eichenberg is a four-star who Michigan has serious competition for.

“The way it looks right now, and I just talked to him a couple weeks ago, I think Boston College is probably in a little bit of trouble here,” 247Sports analyst Bill Greene said. “I think it’s an Ohio State-Michigan battle. Both of them waited so long to offer, but I think he takes unofficials to both — he already has taken one to Michigan — then he will take official visits to both, and I think it is really between those two schools.”

Eichenberg’s older brother, Liam, is a starting offensive tackle at Notre Dame. Michigan offered Liam when he was in high school and had him to Ann Arbor for camps as well as visits, which incidentally is helping Michigan with Tommy.

“He visited Michigan when he was younger when Liam was getting recruited by Michigan and loved it up there,” Greene said. “Ohio State was really the team he rooted for his entire life, though, it wasn’t Notre Dame with Liam going there. I think Ohio State has the upper hand, but you never know in recruiting.”

For Michigan, Eichenberg is likely a true Mike linebacker. He is known as a powerful hitter but has also developed into one of the most complete players at his position in the Midwest.

“He is really good,” Greene said. “I saw him play three times this year and he got better every time. What I saw at the end of the year here was, he wrecked a (Cincinnati) Elder team by himself, an Elder team that might play for the (Ohio) state title. He is a three-down linebacker. You never have to take him out because he is so good in pass coverage. He is a great blitzer as well and we already knew he could run sideline to sideline.”

Eichenberg and Ignatius are now finished with their season. He had previously stated that he would focus more on recruiting once his season was completed.

Commit picked for Under Armour Game

A new twist in this year’s Under Armour All-America Game is that the coaches on both sides draft their teams.

Michigan running back commit Zach Charbonnet, who has had an outstanding senior campaign, was the second overall selection in the draft. The Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian product has rushed for 1,455 yards and 11 touchdowns in nine games.

The game will take place on Jan. 3 in Orlando, Florida.

UM adds Virginia RB to 2020 class

Michigan received their fifth commitment in the 2020 class with Ashburn (Va.) Broad Run running back Tim Baldwin, who visited last weekend and committed shortly after.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Baldwin is a powerful runner who has also played well on defense as a senior.

He held offers from Boston College, Maryland, Virginia, Rutgers and Syracuse, among others.

The 247Sports Composite ranks him as the No. 29 running back nationally in his class.

More information

Allen Trieu covers Midwest football recruiting for 247Sports. He has been featured on the Big Ten Network on its annual Signing Day Show. His Michigan and Michigan State recruiting columns appear weekly at detroitnews.com.